Bond. J. Bond.

SLB met the incomparable Justin Bond last Thursday. Firstly, for those of you who do not know who Justin Bond is, shame on you. Secondly, Justin Bond IS iconic, queer, New York cabaret. He is a superstar who features as himself (or at least one of his stage personas) in the equally iconic and ground-breaking film Shortbus. Justin Bond is never afraid to be himself. Unashamedly, unabashedly, uncompromisingly himself. SLB admired that in performance artists.

SLB was having a drink in the bar of the Soho theatre, having just met up with an actor friend of his, Chris, who was talking about his next fringe venture in Battersea when, wonder of wonders Justin Bond himself sashėd down the stairs and into the foyer. SLB looked up from his vermouth on the rocks to see a vision in sequins breeze past him to the bar. Well of course SLB was on him in a flash and made no excuses about the fact that he was a fan, a groupie, an admirer. Flattery was awfully dull, but Justin Bond was a hot mess, and SLB made exceptions for a limited number of people.

As it happens, Bond had just been in the theatre to scope out the venue for future projects after the wild success of his previous one man show 'Lustre' at the venue last year. And like most performers, in 'real' life, Bond was an incredibly self-deprecating, intelligent, fierce individual: outspoken, yet shy to a degree. Camp, but endearing.

The evening was a coup. SLB learned all about Bond's American exploits with fierce showbiz side-kick Lady J and the equally fascinating transgender nymph, Novice Theory, while SLB in turn educated Bond on his most recent British conquests which Bond found intriguing having lived here himself. They talked about John Cameron Mitchell, Sean Penn in Milk, the Tony awards, political scandal, and the difference between British gays and American gays (which SLB always found to be rather obnoxious).

The drinks were flowing, the stories: outrageous, the humour: revolutionary. In short SLB found the experience of talking with le Bond enlightening and inspiring. It was such a shame then, when SLB had to cut the evening short to make an appearance at Punk. But, Kate Moss was calling.

As SLB left, he remembered the lyrics to a song he had seen Bond sing in New York once when he was there. A cover of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill':

Come on baby, come on darling
Let me steal this moment from you now
Come on angel, come on, come on darling
Let's exchange the experience, oh...

Well what a moment SLB had had tonight. In terms of gays, it doesn't get much more stellar than Justin Bond. Hot!